How to plan an eco-friendly wedding

If the thought of a green wedding makes you want to run for the hills, we don’t blame you. But creating a day that’s gentle on the planet isn’t all barefoot brides, chanting vows and mung beans. On the contrary, a sustainable wedding can be a luxe affair that’ll leave your guests with long-lasting memories instead of unnecessary bonbonniere. We asked eco stylist, Faye De Lanty, who created her own sustainable nuptials earlier this year, to run us through her top tips.

Find your tribe

Faye says don’t just investigate the eco brands you’d like to use, make sure you have a connection with them. For her big day she enlisted ethical wedding dress designer Lenka Couture, slow event styling Little Lane Events and Salvos Stores for second hand items. “We looked at all the areas where we could reduce our waste and tread a little lighter on the planet,” she says. “Mindfully Wed was also a fantastic resource. Their ethical wedding directory is fantastic.”

Nurture Nature

Choose natural fibres like cotton, silk and linen, says Faye. Her bridesmaids wore dresses hand-dyed using brown onion skins, her mum saved leaves and flowers from her garden for biodegradable ‘confetti’ and she also chose to work with a slow florist “I only discovered this concept two months out from our big day, but what I learnt from Dancing Blossom Studio was enough for me to completely change track with my flowers. She also banned single-use plastic and disposables from the reception.

Faye and husband, Lee on their wedding day

Involve family and friends

Faye called upon her nearest and dearest to offer their skills in lieu of wedding gifts. “Stylist and TV Presenter Donny Galella MC’d for us, Arrnott Olssen, soul singer and DJ did the music, our friend, Adrian Erdedi drove Dad and I in his gorgeous car complete with a care package of champagne, hankies and mints on the back seat,’ says Faye.

Define your non-negotiables

Ask yourself what’s most important for the two of you, says Faye. “Lee and I chose to spend on the experience rather than the stuff, like a gorgeous venue, nice food and wines. Just because it’s eco doesn’t mean it can’t be luxe. The best compliment we received from everyone was how the day made them feel,” she explains. “We ditched the idea of luxe cars and called on the share economy via Uber Luxe, we also donated any excess food to Oz Harvest and the wedding flowers used in the reception were donated to the local hospital.

Say goodbye to traditional gifts

Give pressies – and their packaging – the flick and consider a Wishing Well. “Ours bought us the airline tickets for our honeymoon,” says Faye. “Alternatively, ask guests to donate to a charity of your choice.”